Rep. Bryan Terry

Rep. Bryan Terry Publishes 3 Part Series on Opioid Crisis

October 29, 2019 By Admin

The opioid crisis is a complex issue impacting Tennesseans of all demographics. Most recently, I opined on the issue in a three part series discussing the supply and demand of opioids including what steps have been taken at the state and where we need to go from here.

Please, follow the links to the articles and feel free to provide me any feedback at BryanTerry4TN@gmail.com

Part 1 Introduction:

The Supply and Demand of Opioids: An Intricate Dynamic

Part 2 Supply:

The Supply and Demand of Opioids: Tackling the Supply Problem

Part 3 Demand:

The Supply and Demand of Opioids: Tackling the Demand Problem

Rep. Bryan Terry Pushing For Rutherford Co. DMV Solutions

September 7, 2019 By Admin

Folks, I wanted to give the community an update on what has been going on with the DMV and ask for community input as we move into next year’s session. As I have been investigating the issues, a couple of stories have come about that highlight some of the issues at our driver’s service centers across the state.

HOW BAD ARE TENNESSEE DMV WAIT TIMES?

AUDIT: NON-RESIDENTS GETTING TENNESSEE DRIVERS’ LICENSES

As many know, we have a driver’s service center(DMV) located off Middle Tennessee Blvd. They provide driving permits, driver’s licenses, road testing, renewals, handgun permits, and now they have Real ID. We, also, have three renewal kiosks located in Rutherford County.

Nobody enjoys going to the DMV. Nobody wants to wait. Nobody who values their health points to the DMV and demands a DMV style government run health care system. It is an essential government service that everyone points to as a prime example of government inefficiency. Despite upgrades or changes, it always seems as if the system is still behind.

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been investigating some issues that have cropped up. Ironically, the economy is booming and our labor market has gotten tight. For employees, it is great in that wages have risen, and employees are in high demand in the workplace. For those hiring, including the government, it means one has to look for solutions in order to offer a productive and efficient service.

Between emails, phones calls and meetings with the Department of Safety, Governor Lee’s office, our Speaker and Finance chair, and leadership, I have been looking for some solutions that could benefit our citizens. As I’ve described my four step process on issues before, I wanted to explain my process on this issue.

PREMISE OR PROBLEM

Our DMV has been experiencing extended delays for services, including in the office and road test services. While this premise or problem seems to be the standard operating procedure for a DMV, we have seen a recent worsening of this problem.

A few years ago, I looked into the issue. What I discovered was that the state average wait for a road test was 12 days while Rutherford County was around 18 days. Some options were floated, but the direction the Department of Safety wanted to take was to offload services from the DMV site either via kiosks or having counties oversee some of the services.

Rutherford County did not participate in absorbing some of these services. With a tight county budget and personnel restrictions, I certainly understand the decision. (As an aside, Lisa Duke Crowell is doing an admirable job and is willing to work for solutions. She has the interest of our constituents and taxpayers in mind.).

In the end, the Department of Safety placed three kiosks in Rutherford County. These kiosks help with renewals and are located at Middle Tennessee State University, the Murfreesboro Driver Services Center, and Rutherford County Clerk (Smyrna).

Currently, there are three acute problems occurring at our DMV. First, is personnel. We are supposed to have 8.5 full time equivalent employees at the center. Unfortunately, we are down 3 employees due to vacancies. The Dept. Of Safety has increased their salaries and has hired 3 people to fill the vacancies, but they haven’t started yet. Additionally, I have been told that our DMV recently had a person on vacation, one out for surgery, and one sick. They were down to 2.5 employees which backed things up considerably.

In today’s job market, it is difficult to attract employees to work in a DMV. It is a thankless job that has high turnover. Ironically, as I discuss turnover and vacancy issues, one of the individuals with the department that supplied me with information is no longer there.

Secondly, with Real ID coming into fruition, we have had an influx of people needing new IDs at the DMV. There are kiosks in the county to offload renewals, but that doesn’t help with new or real ID’s. Thirdly, gun permits have increased, as well.

We aren’t the only center having issues. There are 43 other centers in Tennessee like our center in Murfreesboro. Statewide, there are 29 vacancies. In addition, statewide there is a road testing average wait time of 11 days. Unfortunately, Rutherford County seems to be hit exceedingly hard. We have 10% of the vacancies and our road testing wait time is 28 days. Only the East Shelby County Driver’s Center has a longer wait at 29 days.

GOALS

Obviously, the goal should be to provide an efficient public service to the community in a cost efficient manner.

OPTIONS

Self-governance is the cornerstone of our republic. So, I am more than open to listening to any options that may be presented. Please, contact my office if you have any. That being said, I’ve been having discussions on three basic options. Understand that the Department of Safety has given raises to employees, but that still hasn’t resolved the issue.

First, the Department of Safety is continuing to look at offloading services from the main office. They are partnering with County Clerk Office’s to have county government provide some of the services. Many counties have joined in the partnership. Rutherford County has not, as of yet. Secondly, adding more kiosks may allow for decreasing demand at the service center.

Third, with high turnover and need to cover vacancies, vacations, and sick leave, starting a float pool to either work in the office or provide road testing is an option that I have discussed with the Department of Safety and the Lee Administration.

FEASIBILITY

Without significant financial outlay from the state to Rutherford County, it will be difficult for our county to participate in a partnership. With a tight county budget, personnel restrictions, and on the heels of a county tax increase, asking the county to foot the bill doesn’t seem feasible.

With a greater than 600 million dollar surplus, Tennessee should have significant non-recurring and recurring funds. Non-recurring funds could help with setting up more kiosks. Recurring funds could help with setting up and running a float pool.

CONCLUSION

The Department of Safety will be presenting their budget requests to the Governor soon. For our citizens, these services are a priority, and I’m pushing for them to address the concerns of our growing county.

As always, I’m honored that you allow me to serve.

With Liberty,

Rep. Bryan Terry, MD

Representative Bryan Terry Fights To Support Tennessee’s Strong Economy

August 13, 2019 By Admin

(Nashville, Tenn.) — Throughout his time serving in the Tennessee General Assembly, State Representative Bryan Terry (R-Murfreesboro) has fought to make Tennessee an attractive destination for businesses and for families.

By supporting legislation that strengthens our business-friendly environments, cutting taxes, and eliminating burdensome, job-killing regulations, Terry and his Republican colleagues have ensured Tennessee’s unemployment rate remains near historic low levels — just 3.4 percent as of June 2019.

U.S. News recently ranked Tennessee No.1 in their report for Best States for Fiscal Stability while Business Facilities Magazine recognized Tennessee as having the best business climate.

“Our conservative, job friendly policies are helping Tennessee attract and grow businesses. We’re seeing businesses move to Tennessee from other states while also seeing Tennesseans open new businesses,” stated Terry. “Business leaders are showing confidence in Tennessee and it is reflected in our strong economy.”

With low unemployment rates and a strong business climate, Tennessee’s average median household income is growing at the second fastest rate in the entire southeast. The average private business hourly wage has grown in Tennessee and is hovering around $24 per hour without the regulatory endangerment of a $15 an hour minimum wage mandate.

“Tennessee is rising to the task of better jobs and wages without resorting to added regulatory burdens and legislative mandates that are counterproductive. However, this is just one piece of the puzzle to improve the quality of life for Tennesseans,” stated Terry. “Families and businesses prioritize various attributes of a community or state when looking to grow a business or raise a family. I am working diligently with my colleagues to address these other elements like health, safety, and quality education.”

While not often cited as the main deciding factor for family and business location, access to recreation and leisure activities often plays a pivotal role. Industries such as leisure, hospitality, and tourism, tend to thrive in healthy economic areas like Tennessee. The tourism industry — which currently employs 189,757 citizens and accounts for 6 percent of all jobs — generated over $1.8 billion in state and local revenue alone last year. That is a $50 million increase for the state over the previous year.

“Our economy is firing on all cylinders right now, and new companies are relocating to Tennessee every day. Clearly, Tennessee tourism and the hospitality industry are key components to our overall success, and my colleagues and I will continue to support those employed through these and all of our industries. Under Republican leadership, Tennessee will remain the best place in the entire nation to live, work, raise a family, and retire,” Terry concluded.

Bryan Terry, MD serves as Chairman of the House Health Committee. He is also a member of the House Insurance and the House Calendar & Rules Committees, as well as the Facilities, Licensure & Regulations, Mental Health, Public Health, and TennCare Subcommittees. Terry lives in Murfreesboro and represents Tennessee House District 48, which includes a portion of Rutherford County. He can be reached by email at: Rep.Bryan.Terry@capitol.tn.gov or by calling (615) 741-2180.

Rep. Bryan Terry Works To Improve Healthcare

July 8, 2019 By Admin

NASHVILLE, JULY 8, 2019– Representative Bryan Terry (R-Murfreesboro) recently sent letters to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on behalf of District 48 and the Tennessee House Health Committee for support of a new proposed federal rule that would help improve the financial situation of Tennessee hospitals. The rule would adjust the formula for calculating the Medicare Area Wage Index (AWI) which would improve payments to Tennessee hospitals and help stabilize the health care market.

“Because Medicare payments are predicated on the Area Wage Index and the AWI for Tennessee is low, our hospitals, especially our rural hospitals and those located in East Tennessee, are placed at a significant financial disadvantage compared to other states,” explained Terry. “While medical equipment, supplies, and medications have continued to climb, Tennessee’s AWI has not. Hopefully, CMS will fix this disparity.”

Currently, every county in the State of Tennessee falls below the area wage index. This places Tennessee at a rank that is near the bottom of the reimbursement ranks in the country and has created a financial problem for hospitals in Tennessee. The relief CMS has proposed in this rule will help keep more Tennessee hospitals from shutting down, and it will help keep healthcare access open for our citizens.

As Chairman of the Health Committee, Terry worked with the Tennessee Hospital Association, members of his committee, and other groups to address this problem. In his letters, he pointed out that the structural make-up of AWI created a cycle that has led to the downfall of Tennessee’s reimbursement rate over the last 15 years. He emphasized that the proposed rule by CMS, CMS- 1716-P, would allow a beneficial plan to resolve the wage index disparities for hospitals with a wage index value below the 25th percentile, and would check the abuses of the “rural floor” calculation seen in other states.

“Medicare often doesn’t even pay enough to cover the costs to provide a service. TennCare often pays significantly less than Medicare. This problem has to be addressed if we want to recruit doctors and services that will keep our hospitals afloat,” stated Terry. “While this rule change won’t solve every problem in health care, it is a necessary step.”

In addition to addressing the AWI, Terry has been actively working on legislation within the House Republican CARE Plan which is aimed at decreasing costs and improving consumer driven care. He has, also, been working to increase efficiency with TennCare while looking to help Tennessee take advantage of the State Relief and Empowerment Waivers offered by the Trump Administration.

Follow Dr. Terry on Facebook and Twitter.

Tennessee General Assembly Legislative Wrap For 2019

May 29, 2019 By Admin

Many high priority topics were heard in the first year of the 111th General Assembly. I was privileged to take part in sponsoring and supporting several initiatives that will make Tennessee even better.

Healthcare –

Katie Beckett Waivers (HB 498) – This allows children with severe medical needs to receive in home care and services that they need, even if their parents’ annual income exceeds the income cap. Some families have had to divorce in order for one of the parents to qualify for TennCare in order to get help for their child. As part of the TennCare committee, I helped to form and sponsor this legislation.
Pharmacy Benefits Managers (HB 786) – PBMs, the middlemen often responsible for increased drug pricing and unfair practices against pharmacies, will now have guardrails around their actions due to the regulations passed in House Bill 786, which I co-sponsored. Additionally, I passed a budget appropriations amendment that will allow the state to implement best practice guidelines for PBMs.
Opioids (HB 705, HB 942) – Illicit fentanyl and carfentanil are opioids that are more potent than heroin, but carried lesser penalties. I co-sponsored both of these bills that increased penalties for the trafficking of these opioids.
Insurance (HB 1126 & HB 419) – I supported insurance legislation that will allow for health care policies amongst a collaboration of small businesses. In addition, I supported the Right to Shop Act which will require health insurance carriers to create incentive programs for policy holders who have met their deductible to look for healthcare providers that provide quality healthcare services at a cost lower than the average price.

Local –

Firefighters (HB 316 & HB 123) – We were able to provide better care and service to our Tennessee firefighters with a bill which will provide healthcare compensation to firefighters who have been diagnosed with cancer as a result of their work in the line of duty. Secondly, my Arson Investigator bill will extend police powers and the ability to make arrests related to arson investigation to county fire investigators. This will allow the Rutherford County Fire Department to perform their investigative duties in a much more efficient and effective manner.
Sheriffs’ Departments (HB 643) – Thanks to overwhelming support for the mental health transportation bill, Sheriffs’ departments across the state will have an alternative for transportation of mental health patients. This initiative will protect our officers and our patients.
Voter Convenience (HB 1077) – I previously passed a voter convenience pilot program for a Rutherford County. The program was an overwhelming success, and House Bill 1077 makes sure Rutherford County will be able to continue with convenient voting centers for our elections.
MTSU Funding – I was glad to support Governor Lee’s 2019 budget, which included nearly $35 million in funding for the MTSU Concrete Industry Management program.

Abortion –

Heartbeat Bill (HB 77) – I stood for Pro-Life legislation when the House of Representatives passed the Heartbeat Bill which would prohibit abortions after a fetal heartbeat was detected, unless there were concerns for the health of the mother. Unfortunately, the Senate deferred action until 2020.
Complications of Abortion Reporting Bill (HB 711) – With the passing of my Complications Reporting Bill, Planned Parenthood will be exposed and held accountable for the complications encountered during abortion procedures that Tennessee tax dollars have to pay to fix.

Illegal Immigration –

State Dollars – I stood with the other conservative members in the fight against illegal immigration. I helped to ensure that illegal immigrants would not be able receive state benefits,
E-Verify (HB 1239) – I also supported a bill that requires that employers with 25 or more employees enroll in an electronic verification program to confirm the work authorization status of their employees. In the previous session, I helped reduce the requirement from 100 to 50 employees. This bill will reduce that number further. Unfortunately, the Senate deferred action until 2020.

Education –

Budget Funding – The General Assembly secured $168 million in new funding for Tennessee Public Education, including increased teacher pay, more school resource officers, expanded vocational education, and increased BEP funding.
MTSU Scholarships – The 2019 budget also included $750,000 in financial aid for scholarships for students in the joint MTSU/Meharry medical program.
Teacher Reward Bill (HB 632) – I sponsored and passed a bill that provides a reward of five additional professional development points (PDP) to teachers working in Priority or Focus list schools. Teachers are required to earn 60 PDP’s for their license every 6 years. The bill will help those teachers who work in difficult educational environments.
Teacher Evaluations (HB 928) – I stood with Governor Lee in his initiative to update the Tennessee teacher evaluation process. While I recognize that further protections are necessary, the bill is a step in the right direction. I will continue to fight to protect our teachers in the future.

Taxes & Employment –

The General Assembly unanimously passed a $38.5 billion budget. The budget included an addition of $225 million to the state’s rainy day fund, while eliminating the professional privilege tax for 15 professions, the amusement tax on gyms and fitness centers, and the tax on ammunition.
Tennessee’s economy is prospering. Tennessee has record low unemployment at 3.2%, businesses are moving to Tennessee every day, and the General Assembly secured $222 million to continue to bring high paying jobs to Tennessee.

Follow Dr. Terry on Facebook and Twitter.

Terry Introduces March Madness & Fantasy Football Freedom Act

February 28, 2019 By Admin

NASHVILLE, February 28, 2019 — The NCAA College Basketball Tournament is just around the corner.
Representative Bryan Terry (R-Murfreesboro) has filed HB 1033, which has been dubbed the “March
Madness and Fantasy Football Freedom Act”, and is aimed at decriminalizing the yearly tradition of
thousands of Tennesseans participating in low level sports entertainment office pools.

The bill would allow an individual participant to place a maximum of twenty-five dollars into a low level
sports entertainment pool that is run solely by an individual, but not a as business for profits. The
maximum size of the pool would be one thousand dollars. Most March Madness pools involve
participants filling out one or two brackets of sixty-three games with an entry fee of five or ten dollars
per bracket. Fantasy football often involves either a flat entry fee or an entry fee of around ten dollars
with one dollar added per roster transaction. The bill is limited in its scope to only low level sports
entertainment pools.

“Whether for camaraderie or for a sense of entertainment, thousands of Tennesseans participate in
these entertainment pools at work or with their friends. They put five or ten bucks in a pot and fill out a
bracket or draft a team,” explained Terry. “The activity is more about entertainment and not gambling.
Let’s be honest, one or two movie tickets often cost more than an entry into a pool, and you gamble
more on whether or not the movie is actually going to be entertaining.”

Former NBA player and U.S. Senator Bill Bradley passed the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection
Act (PASPA) in 1992 which limited any form of gambling on sports, including low level office pools, to
only four states: Nevada, Delaware, Oregon, and New Jersey. As such, the State of Tennessee has kept
statutes on the books prohibiting activities such as March Madness and Fantasy Football pools.

The legislation was filed in light of the decision reached last May by the U.S. Supreme Court in Murphy v
NCAA; a case which overturned PASPA. By dissolving the legal bounds set by PASPA, the Supreme Court
extended the right to participate in low level pools to all 50 states. “Ideally it would a simple fix to just
repeal current statutes, but that would open the door to widespread sports gambling. I’m not going
down that road. I’m just focused on ensuring office workers and friends can enjoy activities that they
have always done without risk of criminalization,” said Terry.

In 2018 it is estimated that over 70 million March Madness tournament brackets were completed
nationwide with upwards of $10 billion in various pools. Likewise, the Fantasy Sports Trade Association
estimates that thirty-three million people participate in fantasy football, with more than $1.18 B
changing hands through pools each year. Despite their widespread popularity and recent federal “green
light”, these low level sports entertainment pools, in any capacity, are still considered illegal in
Tennessee as a Class C Misdemeanor. Technically, one could be charged, convicted, and sentenced to 30
days of jail time and ordered to pay a $50 fine for participating in fantasy football or March Madness
pools. If two people were to promote the creation of an office pool, they could be charged with
Aggravated Gambling Promotion under § 39-17-503, which is a Class E Felony carrying anywhere
between one to six years in prison and a fine up to $3,000.

“The General Assembly used to utilize the Office of the Repealer to remove anachronistic or
unnecessary laws from our code. We need to go that route with March Madness misdemeanors and
Fantasy Football felonies,” exclaimed Terry. “This statute, to my knowledge, has never been enforced
and needs to be repealed.”

If the Tennessee General Assembly passes HB 1033, it will be joining 27 other states who are looking to
address this issue in some capacity. Though Terry is taking a unique approach for thousands of
Tennesseans who annually participate in low level sports entertainment pools, he hopes he can provide
security for all those who fill out brackets. “Due to PASPA, the Feds basically created a system of black
market bracketology, and it’s time that this statute goes bust like most brackets,” concluded Terry.
For more information regarding this bill please contact the office of Representative Bryan Terry at the
information below.

Office: (615) 741-2180
Email: rep.bryan.terry@capitol.tn.gov
Link to bill: http://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/BillInfo/Default.aspx?BillNumber=HB1033

Rep. Terry: Week one of the 111th General Assembly

January 28, 2019 By Admin

This week I filed my first two bills. The first bill is HB 120 and will increase the penalties related to illicit fentanyl, sufentanil, and carfentanil manufacturing, possession, distribution, and trafficking. Though more powerful, cheaper, and easier to traffic than heroin, they carry less of a penalty which incentivizes drug traffickers to poison our communities. I have spoken extensively with Governor Lee and his staff on this issue, and I believe he is looking into making some changes to our laws. However, I must ensure this issue is getting addressed, thus filed the bill. Senator Dickerson, who carried it last year, has agreed to carry it again.

I have, also, filed HB 123 which will allow county fire departments to appoint arson investigators and provide them with policing powers to secure the scenes of suspected arson. Municipalities currently have this authority, but this bill will extend it to the counties. Though the bill applies statewide, this is really a local issue as we are losing our arson investigator to retirement. Fire Chief Larry Farley brought this issue to my attention. The mayor, sheriff, and county commission are supportive and the state fire marshal office does not oppose.

Without an arson investigator to secure a scene, Rutherford County firefighters would be forced to keep a truck and firefighters at the scene until an investigator that covers seven counties arrives. Our fire department could then be without the use of a truck and manpower for several hours until the scene is secured. In a county that is growing like ours, this is unacceptable. Senator Shane Reeves will be carrying this bill in the Senate.

Working on Issues Important to Tennesseans

This week I continued to gather information and work on issues that are important to the District and to Tennessee. I was able to formally sit down with the new TennCare Director, Gabe Roberts and listen to his vision for TennCare. I discussed my concerns with the program, as well as offered input on how we can better serve Tennesseans. I was, also, able to meet with the Chairmen of the new TennCare and Health Insurance Committees to discuss some of our challenges ahead.

In addition to those meetings, I met with all the Health Subcommittee Chairmen and vice-chair to discuss logistics and major health issues that will be coming through our committees. I expect unborn protections, opioids, mental health treatments, certificate of need legislation and medical cannabis to be some of the issues we will discuss.

One of the major headlines this week revolved around New York’s new abortion law that, in my opinion, is not only anti-life, but dangerous to women. Allowing non-physicians to perform abortions while, also, presenting a false sense of security for women with a true medical emergency is malpractice by a state. One can rest assured that as Chairman of Health, I will work against any such legislation. In fact, I’m already working with others to further protect the unborn and women.

One should, also, know that I have held many discussions with legislators, the administration, and others on the issue cannabis based medicines. I’ve had two working drafts of legislation, but after many discussions, I have decided one pathway is clearly a better and more feasible option. As many may know, I require legislators to fill out my four step process form when they file a bill. I do the same for my legislation. The steps include: premise or problem to solve, goal or goals, options, and feasibility of those options. Understanding that my premise is that the chemicals in cannabis have medicinal properties and my goal is to get cannabis based medicines to Tennesseans in a safe and cost efficient manner, I know that there are many options to take. In fact, 33 states have taken various options. But in Tennessee, the feasibility of various options is narrow. I’m working hard to ensure we can accomplish our goals this session.

111th General Assembly Honors Martin Luther King, Pledges To Fight Racism

This week in Nashville, House Republicans formally honored Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s life with a resolution noting all he did to bring us together. The measure also pledges to fight racism of all types in Tennessee.

Members of the House leadership team introduced the measure during Wednesday morning’s session in the House chamber. It was later passed unanimously by the entire Tennessee General Assembly, sending a message that racism and hatred will not be tolerated in our state.

Dr. King was a prominent civil rights leader who emphasized peaceful demonstration and inspired young men and women across the country to draw attention to the injustices done solely because of race.

House Republicans are committed to honoring his incredible legacy and making King’s dream come to fruition by ensuring Tennessee is a place where equality, justice, freedom, and peace continue to grow and flourish.

Tennessee Unemployment Holds Steady During December

Statewide Unemployment Rate Remains at 3.6 percent for Second Consecutive Month

New data released by the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development shows Tennessee’s statewide unemployment rates remain near record low levels.

The seasonally adjusted statewide unemployment rate for December 2018 was 3.6 percent, which mirrored the rate from November.

Since 2011, House Republicans have supported a business-friendly environment that has led to the creation of more than 400,000 new private sector jobs. Additionally, Tennessee’s median household income is growing at the second fastest rate in the entire southeast.

Republican leaders will continue to focus on backing commonsense initiatives and eliminating burdensome regulations that hinder job growth. This will guarantee our state remains open for business.

Governor Lee Issues First Executive Order to Address Accelerated Transformation of Rural Areas

All executive departments required to assess rural impact and provide recommendations

This week, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee issued his first executive order, requiring all state executive departments to issue a statement of rural impact and provide recommendations for better serving rural Tennessee.

This executive order is the first step by the administration to accelerate plans to address 15 distressed counties in Tennessee — all rural. The order requires each executive department to submit a statement of rural impact explaining how the department serves rural Tennesseans no later than May 31, 2019 and recommendations for improving that service by June 30, 2019.

There are 22 executive departments that will engage in this review and recommendation process. Distressed counties rank among the 10 percent most economically distressed counties in the nation. Each year, the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) prepares an index of county economic status for every county in the United States.

Lake, Lauderdale, Hardeman, McNairy, Perry, Jackson, Clay, Grundy, Van Buren, Bledsoe, Fentress, Morgan, Scott, Hancock, and Cocke Counties are categorized as distressed counties.

Rep. Bryan Terry Named Health Committee Chairman

January 10, 2019 By Admin

NASHVILLE– The 111th Tennessee General Assembly has just gotten underway, and Representative Bryan Terry, MD (R-Murfreesboro), a Rutherford County anesthesiologist, has been named chairman of the Tennessee House of Representatives Health Committee. The assignment places him in a position to make a significant impact on the health care of Tennesseans.

“It’s truly an honor to serve District 48 and all of Tennessee in such a vital capacity,” stated Terry. “I appreciate the faith Speaker Glen Casada has placed in me by placing me in such an important role, and I look forward to the challenges ahead for the betterment of Tennesseans. I’m looking forward to working with Vice-Chairwoman Esther Helton on this important committee.”

Rep. Terry previously served as the House Health Subcommittee Chairman during the 110th General Assembly, and through his efforts, earned the promotion to full chairmanship. During his tenure as Health Subcommittee chair, he played a pivotal role in addressing the opioid crisis, crafting pro-life legislation, and working to decrease health care and prescription costs.

“The opioid crisis has been one of the biggest issues to face Tennessee,” explained Speaker Casada. “Chairman Terry showed extreme diligence and determination in helping bring solutions to the crisis. He has a track record of bringing a conservative and thoughtful businesslike approach to his committee and with the issues facing Tennessee, I’m confident that he will serve our state well.”

As full committee chairman, Terry will, also, oversee three subcommittees: Public Health, Mental Health and Substance Abuse, and Facilities, Licenses and Regulations. “The subcommittee structure will help our committee structure be more focused and efficient in order to better serve our constituents,” explained Terry.

In addition to Health, Chairman Terry has been assigned to serve on the standing Insurance committee and on the new TennCare oversight subcommittee which function under Insurance. “Many people are unaware that TennCare is under the Executive Administration’s purview. The new TennCare committee will bring more power and influence to the people. I’m excited about the opportunity to serve on these committees and help make positive changes for Tennesseans,” concluded Terry.

Representative Bryan Terry, MD serves District 48 which is the eastern half of Rutherford County. His office can be reached at Rep.Bryan.Terry@Capitol.TN.Gov or via phone at 615-741-2180.

Rep. Terry Clarifies Newly Adopted Tennessee Abortion Law

January 3, 2019 By Admin

Several new laws have now taken effect January 1. One new law surrounding abortion that has taken effect is Public Chapter 862. It says that if an abortion provider performs an ultrasound prior to an abortion(they almost always perform one), then they must offer the opportunity to the woman to learn the results. If the woman wants the results, the abortion provider must provide the results including whether or not there is a heartbeat. In addition, the presence or absence of a heartbeat must be included in their report to the state.

The law has been misreported by all sides of news media, but is landmark, constitutional legislation that is going to save lives and hopefully change hearts and minds towards the unborn. It also, unbeknownst to nearly everyone, contains former State Rep. Rick Womick’s everlasting contribution to the pro-life movement.

I know a lot of folks like political inside baseball. Below is some info on how the law got passed and what the law means:

Many folks are aware that back on 2015 Rick Womick had a controversial ultrasound bill. The original iteration had some issues, especially in relation to Amendment 1. However, in 2016, I worked with Rick to amend his bill in order to maximize unborn protections while, also, ensuring it wouldn’t negatively impact the laws surrounding Amendment 1.

Of course, the left and the media, who didn’t bother to understand the changes, were still in hysterics over his bill and several on the right still had concerns because they were not aware of the changes either. In the end, Rick stood in front of the committee. Spoke passionately about the unborn, and in a statesmanlike manner, took his bill off notice.

The amended version of Rick’s bill operated on these principles none of which can be refuted by Planned Parenthood nor pro-abortion activists or legislators.

Depending on gestation, an ultrasound is the standard of care prior to an abortion.
Providers should offer test results so patients can make an informed decision
Women(and all patients) deserve to know the results of their tests if they choose
Providers should document the test results and keep patients records(current law)
Women overwhelmingly will choose life if they know their ultrasound has a heartbeat.

To further explain these points, there are various types of abortion procedures depending on the age and size of the unborn. The state does NOT have to require an ultrasound prior to an abortion because it is already the standard of care. Depending on the perceived gestation of the unborn, the abortion clinic has to obtain an ultrasound or else they risk doing the wrong kind of abortion which is malpractice.

As an ultrasound is a medical procedure, the results should be offered to the patient. In all aspects of medicine, some patients don’t want or even care to understand the results of tests, but patients should make informed decisions on their health and in order to do that, they should be offered or given the results of their procedure. Not offering results or intentionally hiding results is unethical, and abortion providers don’t want to admit they are unethical.

By law, doctor’s offices and hospitals must keep patient records for a certain amount of time. Additionally, by law, abortion providers must submit information to the state surrounding the nature and number of abortions. This report is titled the Intrauterine Termination of Pregnancy Report(ITOP). The ITOP report, in addition to reporting the type of abortion, also, contained the gestational age of the unborn. What it did not contain was whether there was a confirmed heartbeat on the ultrasound. As the abortion clinics must keep records and have this information, this new law will require that heartbeat data be submitted, as well.

This past session, the opportunity arose to insert the principles from Womick’s bill into existing legislation. I called Rick and told him what we were going to do. I worked with the sponsor and we were able to pass the bill with overwhelming support and with Governor Haslam’s signature.

The law is a pro-woman, pro-patient, pro-life piece of legislation that is going to save unborn lives while changing minds as Tennesseans will now know the number of Tennessee heartbeats that the abortion industry takes. This couldn’t have occurred without the groundwork of Rick Womick.

And like Paul Harvey used to say, now you know the rest of the story.

Follow Dr. Terry on Facebook and Twitter.

Bryan Terry: Thanks District 48 Citizens, For Your Overwhelming Support!

November 16, 2018 By Admin

(Nashville, Tenn.) — State Representative Bryan Terry, MD (R-Murfreesboro) thanked the voters of District 48 for their overwhelming support during his successful re-election bid. Terry won by a landslide margin on election night and, also, garnered the highest percentage of votes of any state or federal candidate on the ballot in Rutherford County — including Governor-Elect Bill Lee.

“My family and I are truly humbled and honored to be re-elected to serve our community during the 111th Tennessee General Assembly,” stated an enthusiastic Dr. Terry. “Our community supports efforts to improve education, health care, safety and jobs, as opposed to the extremist rhetoric and protesting that is divisive. I have worked to be the voice for all citizens of District 48, and I look forward to continuing to serve our incredible community.”

Dr. Terry will be serving his third term in the Tennessee House of Representatives for the area that encompasses the eastern half of Rutherford County and Middle Tennessee State University. As a member of the 110th General Assembly, he served as House Health Subcommittee Chairman and was instrumental in many health care improvements — not only in Rutherford County but across Tennessee. During the crafting of Governor Haslam’s Tennessee Together plan, Dr. Terry led efforts to address the opioid crisis while working to ensure that legitimate patients were protected from unintended physical and financial consequences of any legislation.

“My goals with this important initiative were to not only help address the opioid problem plaguing Tennessee, but, also, to ensure patients were able to receive proper treatment, while also protecting their pocketbooks from burdensome expenses,” said Terry. “We know we accomplished a significant part of these goals, but we still have more work ahead, and we are already looking at new solutions to further address this critical issue.”

In addition to the opioid crisis, Terry has worked to decrease prescription costs and also improve patient access. He was instrumental in removing the gag clause on pharmacists, which previously prevented them from discussing less expensive payment options for prescription drugs. Ultimately, President Trump followed Tennessee’s lead by signing a federal law to prevent these same gag clauses.

Recently, the Trump Administration and CMS offered states access to State Relief and Empowerment Waivers. These waivers will allow Tennessee the opportunity to revamp the health insurance market by providing patients with greater choice and less expensive plans.

“We have been working to stabilize the health insurance market and help improve access and options for patients. Unfortunately, restrictions and regulations surrounding the Affordable Care Act, as well as roadblocks put forth by the Obama Administration have hindered our efforts to help our citizens,” stated Terry. “With the new guidance from the Trump Administration, Tennessee will have the opportunity to address several health care concerns including protecting those with pre-existing conditions while providing more patient centered options.”

During his tenure, Representative Terry has been known as a proactive advocate for education. He believes the combination of a new governor and the turnover among House Education Committee members will present some new challenges but, also, exciting new opportunities in order to further improve the system. “Though Tennessee has taken steps forward in education, there are still concerns that need to be addressed including testing. I look forward to continuing to be an advocate on behalf of our community as we strive to make improvements for our students, parents, and teachers,” stated Terry.

With the 111th General Assembly quickly approaching, Rep. Terry explained that he has already been working on legislation and issues for the upcoming session. “We have made remarkable progress improving Tennessee, but creating new solutions to address vital issues that will impact the future outcomes of our state is an ongoing process. I appreciate the strong partnerships I have with our citizens, local leaders, and my legislative colleagues. All of these play an important role in bringing forth innovative ideas that will move Tennessee from good to great. I am thankful to District 48 for the faith they have placed in me to continue to work for the betterment of all.”

Representative Bryan Terry, MD can be contacted at 615-741-2180 or via email at rep.Bryan.Terry@capitol.tn.gov.